City's most popular pool excluded as council tests the waters with $2 entry trial
IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season.
While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge.
Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future.
Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night.
Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there.
"We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said.
"I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work."
Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair".
Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6.
According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit.
Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting".
"We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said.
"What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives."
Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost.
Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included.
"I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said.
"What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning.
Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive.
"I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said.
The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools.
According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million.
City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled".
IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season.
While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge.
Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future.
Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night.
Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there.
"We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said.
"I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work."
Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair".
Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6.
According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit.
Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting".
"We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said.
"What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives."
Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost.
Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included.
"I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said.
"What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning.
Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive.
"I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said.
The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools.
According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million.
City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled".
IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season.
While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge.
Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future.
Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night.
Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there.
"We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said.
"I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work."
Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair".
Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6.
According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit.
Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting".
"We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said.
"What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives."
Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost.
Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included.
"I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said.
"What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning.
Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive.
"I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said.
The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools.
According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million.
City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled".
IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season.
While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge.
Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future.
Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night.
Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there.
"We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said.
"I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work."
Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair".
Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6.
According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit.
Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting".
"We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said.
"What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives."
Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost.
Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included.
"I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said.
"What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning.
Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive.
"I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said.
The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools.
According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million.
City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled".
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